CAREERS IN HEALTH CARE REMAIN ON THE ASCENT; EXPERTS:OPENINGS NOW, MORE IN FUTURE

In less than eight years, the United States labor market is expected to add 3.2 million health service jobs bringing the total of health care jobs to 12 million nationally.

Missouri is expected to see a 38 percent growth in health services jobs by the year 2000. Missouri hospitals are estimated to need 25 percent more health care personnel by the same time.

Health Careers Awareness Week is being celebrated this week in Missouri.

"In these tough economic times, when unemployment is high, there is one bright spot on the employment front and that is health care," said Palmer R. Nichols II, Missouri Hospital Association director of human resources.

"Not only are there openings now, but all statistics point to tremendous growth in many health care fields by the turn of the century. And, in addition, many hospitals are paying for qualified candidate's training."

Both Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau offer scholarships, tuition reimbursements and other financial incentives for prospective health professionals.

"The baby boomers are getting old," Gwen Thoma, director of educational services at Southeast Missouri Hospital, said. "That's a large population needing health care, and who is going to take care of all these people?

"I've heard that old nurses won't be able to retire," she quipped. "We don't where we're going to find nurses to replace them."

In addition to the nation's aging population, changes in the way health care is delivered means additional employees are needed.

"There has been tremendous growth in home health," Thoma said. "We have to get our patients out of the hospital a little quicker, so there is a need for home health care, including rehabilitation and occupational therapy."

Prudy Selsor, employment coordinator at St. Francis Medical Center, said: "In health care, there is so much new new procedures and treatments. As a result, there is a need for more and more people to do those new procedures."

Selsor said, "Health care is an excellent career to get into right now."

She said nursing, physical and occupational therapy are in particularly high demand.

Thoma said, "There are several areas in health care where there is a nationwide shortage. Nursing is one of them. Pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiology are others."

Selsor said, "I don't foresee a glut in any of those areas. Those professionals are in high demand and they are hard to come by."

"These, for the most part, are very well-paid positions," Selsor said. "Starting salaries are especially good, and we look for those to continue to rise. In this area, we have to continue to offer incentives to attract those types of employees."

One reason for the shortage of some health care professionals is a shortage of training programs.

"Schools are really tough to get into, and there are no programs in this area for some professions," she said.

Thoma agreed that many schools offering the training for these positions have limited enrollment.

"There might be a lot of people apply, but only a few can be accepted," she said.

Gloria Green, chairman of the baccalaureate curriculum in the nursing department at Southeast Missouri State University, said, "Our students find that job placement is never a problem. Typically our seniors have jobs by mid-March, some even before Christmas.

"I've been teaching 12 years, and I've never had a graduate not find a job, so I'd say it's pretty secure in terms finding a job."

Southeast currently admits 50 students to the baccalaureate program and 40 students to an associates program in nursing.

"For the baccalaureate program we had three applicants for every one we could admit. And the applicants have higher grade point averages and higher ACT scores."

Harold Tilley, director of the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, said health care careers remain among the most popular courses for high school and post-high school students.

The school has programs for emergency medical technicians, paramedics, licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, respiratory therapists and certified medication technicians.

Most programs are filled to capacity. "And," Tilley said, "we are placing all our students."

Tilley said the vocational school is looking at beginning some new programs for additional health care careers.

"Right now, with our space capabilities, we are kind of constrained in what we can offer," Tilley said.

Thoma said for those considering a career or career change, health care "is not a bad idea."

"I've been in nursing 22 years and there has just never been a time where there hasn't been a need for nurses nationwide. There is always that opportunity to find a job no matter where you go."

While nurses and therapists are often discussed, a variety of other jobs are available in health care.

The Missouri Hospital Association reports that hospitals in the state offer more than 200 different careers. New jobs will be created because of technological advances, especially for those who can repair and maintain high-tech equipment.

"I don't think people realize how many different jobs it takes to keep a hospital running," Thoma said. "It's just like a little world all to its own."